President Sandra M. Chapman called the meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education
to order at 8:30 a.m. on March 7, 2002, in the Board Conference Room, Capitol Building 6, Room
353, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Paul J. Morris, the Board approved
the agenda with the following modifications: remove from page 4, item VIII. B. West Virginia Staff
Development Advisory Council, and add on page 5, under Miscellaneous, B. Policy 2510.

III.

Recognitions

On behalf of the Board, Paul J. Morris recognized Mrs. Margaret Brown Wilkerson of
Dunbar, West Virginia, as an outstanding parent, educator and American. Dr. Stewart presented
Mrs. Wilkerson with a resolution which is appended to the Official Minutes, Attachment A.

Dr. Stewart presented Lenore Zedosky, Executive Director, and Melanie Purkey, Assistant
Director, Office of Healthy Schools, a plaque in recognition of their receipt of the Center for Disease
Control's prestigious Partnership Award for collaboratively working with other organizations across
the United States to improve coordinated school health programs.

Following the presentation, Barbara N. Fish questioned how funding is awarded by the SBA.
Mrs. Fish also requested that a future work session item be added regarding the closure of exemplary
schools.

V.

Recognitions (Continued)

Dr. Stewart recognized two new employees of the Department: Marsha Hagner, Clerk, Office
of Technology and Bane McCracken, Coordinator, Office of Healthy Schools.

VI.

Accreditation Status Based on the Education Performance Audit

of the Tucker County School System

A random and unannounced Education Performance Audit was conducted in the Tucker
County School System on October 15-17, 2001.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by
Paul J. Morris, the Board issued the Tucker County School System Conditional Approval status, two
(2) Tucker County schools Conditional Accreditation status, and one (1) school Temporary
Accreditation status with a March 31, 2003 Date Certain for the conditional accreditation status
schools to achieve full accreditation regarding the education performance audit noncompliances.
(Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment C.)

VII.

Updated Unified County Improvement Plans

Each county board is required to develop and submit an update to the Unified County
Improvement Plan (UCIP) or an equivalent strategic plan to the West Virginia Office of Education
Performance Audits by December 31. This plan is based on information from the Unified School
Improvement Plans, locally identified needs, and school performance data. The plan specifies
strategies for meeting high quality standards and performance measures that have not been met. The
updated plan must be submitted to the State Board for approval. Office of Education Performance
Audits' staff and Department of Education staff coordinated a review of the 55 Unified County
Improvement Plans. The plans were reviewed to determine that the required components were
included and addressed any performance or process deficiencies.

The attachment summarizes the components of the individual Unified County Improvement
Plans. Three (3) plans are in the process of being reviewed and will be submitted, and two (2) plans
have not been received.

Upon recommendation of the OEPA, a motion by J. D. Morris, seconded by Ronald B.
Spencer, the Board Approved forty-four (44) plans and six (6) plans were Approved with
Stipulations. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment D.)

As of February 26, 2002, the Department of Education had received an additional 11
applications for a total of 1,142 applications for Operation Recognition in connection with Policy
4355: High School Diplomas for Veterans. (Attachment G.)

Employment of Substitute Teachers and Retired Teachers

Substitutes in Areas of Critical Need

Fayette, Monongalia and Taylor County Schools submitted policies that met the statutory
requirements and were approved. (Attachment H.)

Request from Hampshire County Parks and Recreation Commission

The Commission requested the use of approximately 4.5 acres located at the northwest corner
of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind property at the east end of Valley Street for
organized sports activities for year 2002. (Attachment I.)

Personnel

The Board approved personnel items for the Department of Education as listed in
Attachment J.

IX.

Reports

Board Member Reports

Barbara N. Fish provided and distributed a brief report regarding her visit to McDowell
County Schools. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment K.)

Paul J. Morris reported that he and J. D. Morris have consulted regarding an evaluation
document for the Director of the Office of Education Performance Audits. It was their
recommendation that the document used for the State Superintendent also be utilized for the Director
of the OEPA. President Chapman asked if a schedule had been set for the completion of the
evaluation. Messrs. Morris left the establishment of a timeline to the discretion of President
Chapman. The evaluation form was distributed to members and members were directed to provide
the Board's executive secretary any suggested revisions within two weeks in order to have a
completed document available for review at the April meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes,
Attachment L.)

X.

Recess

President Chapman recessed the meeting at 9:35 a.m.

XI.

Return from Recess

President Chapman called the meeting back to order at 9:49 a.m.

XII.

Reports (Continued)

Legislative Issues

John Hough, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent, provided and distributed an
update regarding the status of the Board's 2002 legislative agenda. Dr. Hough indicated that a
schedule will be provided to the Board that identifies requirements and timelines that must be met
to be in compliance with legislation passed during the current session. (Copies appended to Official
Minutes, Attachment M.)

Bill Luff, Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, in compliance with W.Va. Code §18-2E-4
and West Virginia Board of Education Policy 7300, presented the West Virginia Report Cards
2000-2001. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment N and addendum.)

Fred Harrington, Assistant Director, Special Programs and Support Services, Office of
Planning, Evaluation, Special Programs and Support Services, Division of Technical and Adult
Education, provided and distributed a report regarding extended learning programs. President
Chapman requested the continued collection of information from the counties regarding how to
better serve students participating in before and after school programs. (Copy appended to Official
Minutes, Attachment O.)

President Chapman called for a motion to move into executive session to discuss personnel
matters.

Upon motion by Paul J. Morris, seconded by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., and in accordance
with the provisions of W.Va. Code §§6-9A-4(2)(A), the Board entered into Executive Session at
12:02 p.m.

XIV.

Return from Executive Session

The Board returned from Executive Session at 12:56 p.m. at which time President Chapman
announced no action was taken and no decisions made.

XV.

Reports (Continued)

Instructional Time

Heather Deskins, Staff Attorney for the Board and the Department, discussed options for
increasing meaningful instructional time for students. In view of developments and discussion since
the last such presentation, President Chapman requested another update be provided at the Board's
April meeting. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment Q.)

XVI.

McDowell County Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP)

G. A. McClung, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Administrative Services,
presented a request from the McDowell County Board of Education to amend its CEFP which did
not contain provisions for the reconfiguration of Mt. View High School to Mt. View Middle/High

School and the closure of Northfork Middle and Welch Middle Schools and the transfer of students
to Mt. View Middle/High School. Mr. McClung indicated that McDowell County has met all
statutes, policies and procedures pertaining to school closures and re-configuration.

Dr. Dee Bodkins, Executive Director, Office of Special Education, Division of Instructional
and Student Services, presented the West Virginia Board of Education's response to the 2001 Annual
Report of the West Virginia Advisory Council for the Education of Exceptional Children
(WVACEEC) which addressed the Council's recommendations in the areas of parent training, task
force activities, fiscal matters, statewide assessment, training, school calendar, and related services.

Upon motion by Howard M. Persinger, Jr., seconded by Sheila M. Hamilton, the Board
approved the Response with seven (7) members voting yes and President Chapman voting no.(Copy
appended to Official Minutes, Attachment R.)

XVIII.

Policy 2510

Bill Luff addressed the Board and provided information pertaining to Policy 2510 including
a bill currently under consideration by the legislature pertaining to the school calendar. (Copies
appended to Official Minutes, Attachment S.)

It was decided that action regarding Policy 2510 would be delayed pending legislative action
and further action pertaining to the promotional efforts regarding this policy would be at the
discretion of Ronald B. Spencer and Dr. Hough.

XIX.

Miscellaneous

President Chapman announced that the policy statement pertaining to bullying was mailed
to county superintendents and RESA directors on March 6. (Copy appended to Official Minutes,
Attachment T.)

President Chapman also requested that any member interested in attending a NASBE
roundtable entitled "Helmets, Homicide and Heartache: Preventing Injury and Fatalities in
Adolescence"to please notify her as soon as possible.

President Chapman requested that writing, grammar and wrongful conduct policies be
included as agenda items for April and requested members to contact her as soon as possible with
other suggested items.

XX.

Future Meetings

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education will take place
April 17-18, 2002 in Ohio County, Wheeling, West Virginia.